NEW COROLLA TOURING CAR BREAKS COVER AT OULTON PARK TEST DAY

The new Team Toyota GB with Speedworks Motorsport Corolla made a successful on-track debut on Friday in preparation for its first racing season in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Driven by Tom Ingram, the reigning BTCC Independent Champion, the Corolla put in a problem-free performance in an official shakedown test at Oulton Park, home circuit for the Cheshire-based team.

The racing Corolla’s first outing coincided with the start of sales of the road-going version of the car, built in the UK at Toyota’s Burnaston factory in Derbyshire.

Ingram was delighted with the car’s first track laps: “This was a really positive day and it was nice to put everyone’s mind at ease that the Corolla is a good car. Having completed the shake-down we have a really good platform to start chasing the performance and fast lap times. If we had to head to Brands Hatch for the first race now, I wouldn’t feel nervous about it, we’re in a really good place.”

The 25-year-old Buckinghamshire driver has appreciated the public’s support in the build-up to the new season: “The response from fans has been remarkable and we’re delighted that people are really getting involved with it. At the same time, there’s tremendous anticipation from me and the team as well for what’s in store,” he said.

Team Principal Christian Dick was equally pleased with the car’s performance: “It was a very productive day. We have plenty of testing planned and the Corolla looks good straight out of the box, so fingers crossed we’ll be right on the pace at the first round.”

The team were gradually able to increase the number of laps in each stint until the car was completing a full race distance, with the objective of testing the car’s strength and reliability.

“We are well aware that the sooner we could get on track with a complete car, the better the package would be for round one of the series,” Dick added. “The early signs are that we are going to be in very good shape, but we’ve still a lot of work to do.”

The car was presented at Oulton in a camouflage livery, with a design nod to the appearance of the Toyota GR Supra sports car when it made its world debut at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Straight after completing the Oulton Park test, the team moved to the Calafat circuit in Spain for further pre-season testing this week. The Corolla’s racing debut is just one month away, with the first round of the 2019 BTCC taking place at Brands Hatch on 6/7 April.